“No, just surprised. Anyway, the painting is yours as stated in the codicil I had Charlie draft before I left.”
“But I don’t want that painting. I’m not sure I ever really did,” she said, then looked at Rick. “It’s not a Picasso, you know. Rick and I love Picasso.”
Confused, he furrowed his brow. “Now, youdon’twant the painting even as an investment?”
“No. Everything has changed. I just want your blessing and to keep the wedding date and all the posh arrangements—paid for by you, of course—but with a change ofgroom.” She gave him a sincere smile.
“What?”
“I’ve asked Caroline to marry me,” Rick chimed in.
Throwing back his head, he laughed. “You’re serious?”
“He is. We’re crazy in love, and I don’t care if Rick doesn’t have money or a classic six on the Upper East Side or—”
“You didn’t tell her?” he asked his sheepishly grimacing cousin.
“Tell me what? Rick?” Caroline asked.
“Um ... I sort of ... wasn’tentirelyhonest.” Rick fidgeted, then took her hand in his. “I have some money,” he humbly said.
“What issomemoney?”
“Old money, I don’t know, like ... nine-figure trust fund money and ... um ... a few houses ... in Europe.”
Darcy laughed again at Caroline’s expression. His friend and his cousin, an avowed bachelor, were finally incandescently happy. He just hoped for his cousin’s sake that the sex was good and her heart stayed true. “I hate to break this up, but I have someplace to be,” he abruptly said.
“Where?” Beanz asked.
“Central Park. I love you both, and you have my blessing, but Rick, you can write me a check for the wedding expenses.” Glancing at his watch, he added, “Beanz, it’s been fun planning a future with you, but the Marriage Pact is officially null and void.” He slung back his cold espresso. “Now, if you’ll both excuse me—I have another marriage pact to propose.”
Caroline slid off the engagement ring. “Then, you’re going to need this. I’m sure she’ll be over the moon.”
“Keep it. Consider it a thank you for agreeing to spend a lifetime with me, then selflessly pushing me to go to Paris.” He sighed. “You and I wasted so much time getting to this moment to find our forever person.”
“Yeah, we did,” she replied, squeezing Rick’s hand.
He rose from his desk, shook his cousin’s hand, then kissed Caroline’s cheek. “I couldn’t think of anyone better than Rick foryou,” then whispered into her ear. “You won’t regret staying true to him, Beanz. He’s a good man, so don’t fuck it up.”
THIRTY
Waking up in William’s apartment felt like old times, bringing forth dozens of fond memories, each one giving Lizzy the best feels to counteract the miserableness of the Gleason/George/Jane situation looming over her head. Wearing William’s T-shirt, she held a steaming cup of coffee, gazing out at the skyline view. Here, in this love shack, she felt safe.
Still, no matter how hard she tried not to dwell on all the hurts Jane had caused, they fought for dominance in her thoughts, creeping back into what would otherwise be a halcyon morning. If her sister was involved in ruining the gallery’s reputation, then that was a hard line across her soul that could never be uncrossed. Her therapist once said, “A detached empath is a dangerous person to a narcissist.” Not only was she detached beyond ignoring,shewas also about to discardJane,not the other way around. It took her years to get up the nerve to face reality and not the altered reality her sister lived in. The agent of chaos, an emotional assassin, had no self-reflection; therefore, she had no accountability for her hurtful actions or words. It was time to stand up for herself.
And just like that, she pushed the thought from her mind, focusing on the infinitely more pleasant recollection of last night’s midnight conversation. Oh, how she had missed them!
In the middle of the night, she opened her eyes, surprised to see William watching over her in the dark. Lying beside each other, they didn’t speak for cherished seconds of unbridled love, palpable in their gazes.
He reached out, caressing her arm. It looked as though his emotions would burst at the slightest provocation, but she said nothing, just held his beautiful countenance in her heart, locking the memory of it for all eternity.
“Is this really happening?” he whispered.
“I don’t know. It may be a wonderful dream.”
Running his hand across her waist he replied. “How’s this for confirmation?”
“Still not convincing. I wanted this for so long and now that it’s here, I can’t believe it’s real.”
